Baghdad, 23 August 2014– The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq (SRSG), Mr. NickolayMladenov, is seriously alarmed by reports regarding the inhuman conditions of the inhabitants of the northern town of Amerli, besieged and cut off from food and water supplies by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) armed group for almost two months.

“The situation of the people in Amerli is desperate and demands immediate action to prevent the possible massacre of its citizens. The town is besieged by ISIL and reports confirm that people are surviving in desperate conditions. I urge the Iraqi Government to do all it can to relieve the siege and to ensure that the residents receive lifesaving humanitarian assistance or are evacuated in a dignified manner. Iraq’s allies and the international community should work with the authorities to prevent a human rights tragedy”, Mr. Mladenov said.

“The United Nations in Iraq will do all it can to support the Government and people of Iraq in alleviating the unspeakable suffering of Amerli’s inhabitants”, he further said.